“The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.”
\n— Psalm 19:1<\/p>\n
Engineering Physics is a two-semester sequence of courses giving a broad introduction to the fundamental physical laws. In these courses and their labs, we begin to peel back the top layers of our universe. What we observe with our own senses is the ordered nature of creation and the predictability of its apparent rules. We also begin to see that every observation we make comes with a recognition of our limitations. We cannot explain anything we observe with absolute certainty! We begin to see that our Creator has gifted us with a universe that humbles us with its complexity and vastness\u2014a reflection of His Divine nature\u2014yet is navigable and applicable for blessing the lives of others\u2014a reflection of His Own grace and mercy.<\/p>\n
One of my class traditions is to read the passage on the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11 for the final semester devotional in Engineering Physics II. In the devotional, I draw from a lesson I learned from one of my ministers in graduate school, applying the lesson to those of us who pursue technological innovations. The lesson has stuck with me throughout my career. As I grow as a teacher, I increasingly appreciate the importance of challenging our students to pursue their careers and achievements with faith, ethics, and their identity as God’s children in the forefront.<\/p>\n
“He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.”
\n–Ecclesiastes 3:11<\/p>\n
Classical Mechanics is an upper-level course that digs deeper into the physical laws that govern the motion of objects in our world. We begin to grapple with the realization that realistic problems are messy. Even the simplest departures from the ideal render exact solutions impossible. Could there be in this a lesson on the nature of sin and the necessity of redemption by grace rather than the works of humanity?! As our reflections on the universe mature, we come to the realization that even the symmetries we observe have profound implications for physical law. If we believe that the laws of nature do not change with time–the cornerstone of the scientific method–then we must<\/em> accept that the energy and matter comprising our universe have been the same throughout all of time. Our eyes turn to God, Who set eternity in our hearts. We grapple with the limitations of our discipline, which can only address what has been created. The creative act itself lies beyond our grasp. Yet, for we of faith, the realization of our limitations is freedom. We cannot reach the Divine ourselves. But God brings us to Himself as His children and there our existence is fulfilled beyond what this physical world can offer.<\/p>\n When I begin a new semester of classical mechanics, I enjoy reading from Psalm 19 in the first devotional (“The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul…”). In my experiences with colleagues outside of ACU, I have learned how the prevalent notion that “physics explains everything” can become something of a secular article of faith. In truth, I do not believe this notion can hold up even to the scrutiny of undergraduate physics; yet it is not uncommon for students to struggle with the idea. I try to help my classical mechanics students to understand, early on, that while the laws of nature are beautiful and compelling, they cannot restore the soul. Only the law of the Lord can do that.<\/p>\n “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities\u2014all things have been created through Him and for Him.” Electricity and Magnetism is an upper-level course in which we look in depth at two seemingly disparate phenomena that in reality stem from the same fundamental source. One of the most important conceptual tools we introduce is the idea of a “field.” Electric and magnetic forces are exacted without contact. To describe the phenomena, we introduce the concept that a source, e.g. an electric charge or a bar magnet, generates a “field” that permeates space. This field will apply a force on any other susceptible object, e.g. another charge or magnet, that enters its space. We may wish to write off these fields as simply mathematical constructs. However, we are struck by the inevitable realization that these invisible fields carry energy and momentum. We are challenged to reconsider what it means for something to be “real.” The world our Lord created has beauty that extends deep, below what we can see. Truly all things, visible and invisible, point us to Him.<\/p>\n “Trust in the Lord with all your heart Quantum Mechanics takes upper-level physics students through an in-depth study of the physical laws governing the universe of the “small things,” e.g. atoms and subatomic particles. Quantum Mechanics challenges the student both mathematically and conceptually. One can no longer predict the exact<\/em> behavior of an object, only its probable<\/em> behavior. At its foundational level, our universe is saddled with irreducible uncertainty! Yet, somehow, this microscopic randomness does not cast our macroscopic lives into chaos. The classical predictions for how an object behaves are correct “on average,” but they cannot predict exactly what a given object will do. We can see in this a host of spiritual lessons. We are not mere robots or slaves to our physical circumstances. While we may at times perceive our stations as hopeless, God gives us freedom to choose Him and His ways over those of the world. We see also that our universe reflects a wisdom far higher than our own. Perhaps especially in academia, we are tempted to blend the wisdom of our age with the Word of God. The acceptance and admiration of our secular peers is intoxicating. Ultimately when the paths split, we need only look at the foundational level of God’s creation to affirm the Psalmists words to trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean on His understanding above that of ourselves and our peers.<\/p>\n I often tell my students that studying and teaching quantum mechanics has strengthened my faith. It is perhaps the branch of physics I most often mention when reflecting on faith and science. When I teach quantum mechanics, I try as often as possible to confess when I don’t understand something (which is fairly often). Aside from this being a healthy lesson for budding scientists, I also use it to open doors for deeper conversations about our faith and walk with God. These have become some of my favorite moments in conversing with students outside of class, in research settings, etc. If nothing else, I hope it has shown them that they never need feel alone in practicing physics while remaining committed to a growing faith in Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n <<< Reflections from the Discipline<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Teaching >>><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Reflection on Faith from Engineering Physics “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.” — Psalm 19:1 Engineering Physics is a two-semester sequence of courses giving a broad introduction … Continue reading Reflection on Faith from Electricity and Magnetism<\/h1>\n
\n–Colossians 1:16<\/p>\nReflection on Faith from Quantum Mechanics<\/h1>\n
\nAnd do not lean on your own understanding.
\nIn all your ways acknowledge Him,
\nAnd He will make your paths straight.
\nDo not be wise in your own eyes;
\nFear the Lord and turn away from evil.”
\n–Proverbs 3:5-7<\/p>\n